Chapter 75
At the funeral home, Tyler stayed close to AJ as much as possible. When they got separated, she kept her eye on him but it was hard with so many people talking to her and to AJ. To add to the distraction, Lex wanted to talk to AJ, to be there for him but he avoided her as much as possible. Kryss, Sonja, and Fiona did their best to keep Lex occupied.
Near the end of the night, Tyler lost track of AJ and when she tried to find him, she realized Ali was gone too. She bumped into Sonja as she rushed to find him.
"What’s wrong, Tyler?"
"I can’t find AJ."
‘Bull’ overheard her and said, "I saw him leave about an hour ago with two girls."
"Damnit!" mumbled Tyler. "Sonja, I’m going back to get my stuff and then I’m going to find ‘Bonehead’. I’ll see you at the funeral."
"Are you sure you want to find him?"
Tyler spotted Lex talking to Denise and she said, "If I don’t, he may screw up the BEST relationship he’s ever had or ever going to have."
‘Bull’ asked, "Do you want me to go with you?"
"Yeah! Kevin would kill me if I went alone. Sonja, is Lex staying at the house?"
"I don’t know. I guess so."
"It would probably be best. I’ll call if I run into any trouble."
Tyler and ‘Bull’ left together and headed home first. Tyler had to pack her bag for LA and get her clothes for the funeral. The whole way to the house, she wondered what she’d find at AJ’s. Was he really so far gone that he’d throw away what he had with Lex?
At the house, the phone was ringing as Tyler and ‘Bull’ entered but Tyler decided to let the machine pick up. She heard the message the four of them had done, the familiar beep, and then HIS voice. She froze in her tracks and looked at ‘Bull’.
"Do you want me to answer?"
"No. As soon as he hangs up, call the cops."
Tyler rushed to her room, packed her bags, and went back down to the living room. ‘Bull’ was waiting for her there.
"You’ll have to wait until the FBI arrives. They want to talk to you."
"I don’t have time for this."
"I’m sorry. They need to hear the message and put a tap on your phone as well as talk to you."
"Well, while we’re waiting, put my stuff in the car."
‘Bull’ did that and Tyler tried to call AJ’s private line. Someone picked it up after ten rings but hung up. She tried again but this time got a busy signal. "Well, at least I know someone’s at the house," she thought. She decided to call Kevin to pass the time.
Kevin was already asleep and she spoke to Carlos. He told her that Kevin had had several drinks for dinner and had turned in early. When she asked to speak to Howie, Carlos said he had gone out with Nick clubbing. She didn’t leave a message before hanging up.
The wait for the FBI was unbearable. She was worried about AJ and she couldn’t get hold of Kevin. The only saving grace was ‘Quincy’. The black cat jumped up into her lap and curled up to take a nap. Tyler sat stroking the cat’s head while ‘Bull’ watched television.
When the FBI was finished talking to Tyler and ‘Bull’, Tyler headed to AJ’s where she didn’t see any cars other than his. Using the spare key that Kevin had to AJ’s house, she let herself in and ‘Bull’ followed her in.
"It doesn’t look like AJ is here."
"I’m going up to check his room. Do me a favor and feed JD and Vegas. AJ has been neglecting them."
‘Bull’ called the two dogs to him while Tyler went up to AJ’s room. The door was slightly ajar and there were no sounds coming from the room. Tyler pushed the door open gently and felt like she had been hit by a truck. Laying in bed covered only by the sheet were AJ and Ali. It was obvious what they had been doing prior to falling asleep and Tyler felt like she was going to be sick. She backed out of the room and went downstairs.
‘Bull’ saw the look on her face. "He’s up there with a girl, isn’t he?"
"I’m going to kill him."
"Wait until after the video and then let the guys do it."
"They’ll just blow it off as something typical of AJ. Look, I’m going to crash on the couch."
‘Bull’ looked around and said, "I’ll take the other couch. I don’t want to take any chances with Pearlman on the loose."
"You don’t have to worry too much. The FBI have two men watching me."
"I don’t have much faith in the ‘Barney Fife’s’ they put on you."
Tyler laughed and the two got comfortable on their respective couches. They both fell asleep watching television.
Ali woke early and snuck out of the house. On her way out, she saw Tyler asleep but she didn’t bother to wake her.
The next morning, AJ came down to find Tyler asleep. He shook his head and took the blanket off the back of the couch. He covered her and gave her a light kiss on the forehead. Tyler mumbled Kevin’s name in her sleep but didn’t wake.
About that time, the phone rang and AJ answered it quickly. "Hello."
"Hey, Age...how ya doin’?"
"Rough but Ty’s been wonderful."
"Where is she now?"
"Asleep on my couch."
Sleepily, Tyler said, "I’m awake. Is that Kevin?"
"Yeah," said AJ as he handed her the phone.
"Hey, ‘Boo’."
Tyler and Kevin talked for a while and she told him about Lou calling and the FBI guards. When AJ left the room, Tyler also told him about finding AJ in bed with Ali. Kevin gave her the reaction she had expected but he was also a little irritated that Tyler had to see him.
After she finished talking to Kevin, Tyler went to the kitchen where she found AJ going through the cabinets. "What are you looking for?"
"What did you do with all the booze?" he asked angrily.
"I poured it out," said Tyler calmly as she walked away from him.
AJ grabbed her by the wrist turning her back to face him as he growled, "You bitch! What gives you the right to do that?"
"Because you’re STUPID enough when you’re sober," said Tyler as she tried to pull away from him. "Don’t you EVER grab me like that again."
AJ let go of her and eyed her. Before he could say any more, ‘Bull’ came in. "Tyler, are you okay?"
Looking at her wrist where AJ had grabbed her, she said, "I’m fine."
Tyler fixed breakfast for the three of them and spent the rest of the morning cleaning AJ’s house for him and not speaking to him. She watched him sulk around the house and a couple times, he made an attempt to leave but ‘Bull’ had the keys to his car.
When it was time for the funeral, ‘Bull’ was the one who had to push AJ along. He had shut Tyler out completely.
At the funeral home, Denise gave Tyler a hug and saw the bruises on her arm. "Did Alex do that?"
"It’s nothing, Denise. He’s really hurting."
"Thank you so much for looking out for him. I don’t know what I would have done."
"It’s no problem. I love him like a brother."
Tyler stayed close to AJ despite his unwillingness to speak to her. After the funeral, he waited for Tyler in the limo as she said good-bye to everyone.
On the flight to LA, AJ got a close look at the bruises he’d left on Tyler’s arm and knew Kevin would be furious when he saw them. He took Tyler’s hand in his and said, "I didn’t mean to hurt you."
"I know," said Tyler coolly. She still had the image of AJ and Ali together in bed in her mind.
"What are you going to tell Kevin?"
"The truth."
AJ looked at her. "He’s going to be ticked."
"Probably."
"And you don’t see a problem with that?"
"I’m not going to lie to my husband to save your sorry butt."
AJ let it drop realizing Tyler was not in the mood to talk. As a stewardess walked by, he held up his hand to get her attention. "I’d like a Jack Daniels....several."
"Oh, no you don’t, Alexander!" hissed Tyler. "You’re staying sober."
"Who’s going to stop me?" challenged AJ.
‘Bull’ spoke softly, "Me."
AJ grumbled, "Forget the Jack. Just bring me a coke."
The rest of the flight was quiet and AJ behaved himself.
At the airport, Tyler could tell Kevin was there by the crowd of young girls at the gate. She spotted Kevin in the middle of the mob signing autographs and when he saw Tyler, a smile spread over his face. She saw him speak to the girls and they parted allowing him to get through. Tyler rushed into his arms as the girls swarmed AJ.
On the way to the hotel, Kevin saw the bruises on Tyler’s arm. "Baby, what happened to your arm?"
